2<\/p>\n One in three Brits can’t name symptoms of bowel cancer – which include stomach pain and bowel habit changesCredit: Getty<\/p>\n The disease – which has seen a concerning surge in people under the age of 50 – causes changes to toilet habits<\/a>, as well as blood-tinged poo<\/a> and unexplained weight loss<\/a>. <\/p>\n A survey conducted ahead of Bowel Cancer<\/a> Awareness Month this April found that up to one in three adults in the UK couldn’t name a single symptom.<\/p>\n Just 12 per cent of the 2,145 people surveyed were able to name bleeding from the\u00a0bottom as a sign of bowel cancer.<\/p>\n Another 22 per cent mentioned diarrhoea<\/a> or changes in bowel habits.<\/p>\n Read more on bowel cancer <\/p>\n But only 24 per cent said stomach pain<\/a> or cramping could be signs of the disease. <\/p>\n Even more alarmingly, 35 per cent of those surveyed admitted they didn’t know any of the symptoms of bowel cancer.<\/p>\n And less than half – 47 per cent – of respondents knew blood in poo could be a red flag. <\/p>\n Genevieve Edwards, the charity’s chief executive, said: “These survey results are deeply concerning.<\/p>\n \u201cBowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, yet far too many people remain unaware of its symptoms.<\/p>\n “Early diagnosis, when it\u2019s most treatable, saves lives and Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is a vital opportunity to change that.”<\/p>\n NHS rolls out bowel cancer screening to 50 and 52-year-olds after Dame Debs’ campaigning <\/p>\n Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer, though is treatable and curable if caught early.<\/p>\n But Bowel Cancer UK warned these findings suggest many people may miss the warning signs.<\/p>\n Radio<\/a> presenter Adele Roberts<\/a>, 46, said: \u201cI myself couldn\u2019t name any symptoms of bowel cancer before I had it.<\/p>\n “Also the year I was on I\u2019m A Celebrity<\/a>, I was quite sick with the symptoms and none of us noticed.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s why I\u2019m so passionate about raising awareness.”<\/p>\n How is bowel cancer spotted? <\/p>\n Bowel cancer screening is a test you do at home that checks for signs of bowel cancer.<\/p>\n It’s currently offered to everyone aged 54 to 74, but soon people aged 50 and up will qualify. <\/p>\n If you’re aged 54 to 74 and registered with a GP, you’ll automatically get a bowel cancer screening home test kit through the post every two years.<\/p>\n The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is used to look for blood in a sample of your poo. <\/p>\n You collect the sample at home and send it by post to be tested.<\/p>\n It can help find cancer early, and before you have any symptoms, which may mean it’s easier to treat.<\/p>\n To do the FIT kit:<\/p>\n Source: NHS<\/p>\n She recently shared that she first experienced symptoms of the disease while on I\u2019m a Celebrity in 2019 – two whole years before her diagnosis.<\/p>\n The DJ and TV presenter<\/a> was fit and at the pinnacle of her career when she started struggling with a bloated tummy, tiredness and weight loss, and noticed blood in her stool. <\/p>\n “If you notice any changes, no matter how small, speak to your GP and it\u2019s never too early to\u00a0take action,” Adele said.<\/p>\n Can you name the 6 red flag symptoms of bowel cancer?<\/p>\n Bowel cancer begins in the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum.<\/p>\n It tends to cause: <\/p>\n Having these symptoms doesn\u2019t always mean you have bowel cancer, but it\u2019s still important to find out what\u2019s causing them so it’s worth visiting your GP<\/a>. <\/p>\n Earlier this year, the NHS announced it was lowering the bowel cancer screening age in England<\/a> from 60 to 50 – in a huge win for Sun columnist Dame Deborah James\u2019 No Time 2 Lose<\/a>\u00a0campaign. <\/p>\n The change instantly made four million people eligible for the life-saving check.<\/p>\n Brits eligible for the screening will receive postal test kits that look for blood in a sample of poo.<\/p>\n It was also recently announced that Brits at increased risk of bowel cancer will get life-saving checks under a scheme funded by Dame Deb’s Bowelbabe Fund. <\/p>\n The\u00a0Cancer Research UK<\/a>\u00a0project will improve access to colonoscopies used to diagnose the condition quickly while it\u2019s still treatable.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s being rolled out in the Scottish Borders and, if successful, could be adopted by\u00a0NHS<\/a>\u00a0trusts across the UK.<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/abdominal-pain-pain-felt-anywhere-982189493.jpg\")
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